The Los Angeles Angels have traded right-handed pitcher Davis Daniel to the Atlanta Braves in exchange for left-handed minor-league pitcher Mitch Farris, the team announced Friday.
Daniel, 27, was a stopgap starter for the Angels during the 2024 season. He made six starts, posting a 6.23 ERA in 30.1 innings. He had a 1.484 WHIP and a 68 ERA+. The Angels were likely to have Daniel rotate between Triple-A, the Major League bullpen and make a spot start every now and again in 2025 before dealing him to the Braves.
The Braves are taking a chance on Daniel, who has some positive chase rate and exit velocity advanced metrics that suggest that some of his bad stats from last season could be a luck issue.
It’s the second trade between the Angels and Braves this offseason and one of several trades between the two franchises since general manager Perry Minasian left Atlanta for Anaheim.
In exchange for Daniel, the Angels land minor leaguer Farris. The 23-year-old was drafted by the Braves in the 14th round of the 2023 MLB Draft. He has largely stuck in the lower levels over the last two seasons, only tossing three innings in Double-A in 2024.
He was particularly effective in High-A Rome last season. In 82.1 innings — 16 starts and 17 appearances — he had a 2.95 ERA and 1.081 WHIP. He struck out 93 batters in that span for a 10.2 K-per-nine rate.
The Angels have been looking for organizational depth across the board, and adding what appears to be a quality left-handed starter for their minor league system could be a great development. The Angels clearly did not see a defined role for Daniel in 2025 at the Major League level, making this type of trade an easy decision.
Angels have Taylor Ward and Luis Rengifo reportedly available
The Angels still have work to do this offseason, or at least so they say. They have been among the most active teams in MLB this offseason, making additions to their rotation and infield, but still certainly needing to make a push with their bullpen and outfield if they want to be legitimate postseason contenders in 2025.
Jorge Soler is their only outfield addition, but it remains to be seen how much he’d actually play in the outfield as opposed to being a DH. But additions aren’t the only types of changes the Angels could be looking to make, as they might take advantage of the trade market in the opposite direction.
If they do, it’s expected that players like Taylor Ward and Luis Rengifo would be among the first to be dealt given their value league-wide.
